LWVCT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2025-2026
Shared Presidency
Tisha has shared state presidential duties with Joanne and Peggy for the past 2 years and looks forward to sharing them with Laura Smits in the new term. Peggy and Joanne will provide vital support to the Board. As co-president, she has enjoyed corresponding with the media, local Leagues, and LWVUS on our positions and managing the Hamden office. When she served as the Vice President for Advocacy and Public Affairs for the State League in 2021-2023, she worked with the advocacy team to educate the public and elected officials on the issues League members have designated as priorities: Voting Rights, Open Government, Clean Elections, Gun Safety, Reproductive Healthcare, and Mitigating Climate Change. From 2019 to 2021, she served as the League’s People Powered Fair Maps Champion. Before retiring in 2017, Tisha was an academic book editor and publisher for 35 years.
Shared Presidency
Director of Communications
Laura Smits, LWV Norwalk
Laura Smits has been a member of the state League board since 2016 in numerous roles, including VP Voter Services, President, and VP Communications. While living in Weston, she was on the Board of Education, ran for First Selectman in 2003 (and lost), and served as Registrar of Voters from 2008-2016. She is a former advertising copywriter, corporate spokesperson, radio talk show host, and freelance writer. She graduated from Northeastern University with a BA in English and finally received an MA in English Literature from SCSU in 2013. She is currently the Co-Convener of the Norwalk League and a certified Elections Moderator for the city of Norwalk.
Vice President Voter Services
Dr. Lampkin has been a member of the League of Women Voters since 2012 after returning to her hometown of New Britain, Connecticut. She has resided in the Washington, DC/Silver Spring, Maryland area since 1976, where she attended and graduated from Howard University. Dr. Lampkin also graduated from the Maryland Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, obtaining an MA degree in medical acupuncture. Her medical background is extensive, becoming a founding diplomat and board-certified in holistic medicine.
Dr. Lampkin returned to her hometown to care for her aging, elderly parents. Since being back home, she decided to volunteer her time with the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and the Consumer Advisory Council for the state of Connecticut. Peggy is dedicated to her family as an advocate and as an advocate to her community. Peggy believes in service, first to her church and then to her community. She enjoys gourmet cooking, walking, and being a member of her local book club.
Vice President Voter Services
Pat Sirulnick joined the League of Women Voters in 2020, a few months after moving to Connecticut from New York City. As a member of the Steering Committee of the LWV Hamden-North Haven, Pat serves as Assistant Treasurer and as a Coordinator of Public Affairs. Pat has enjoyed being involved in various voter registration drives and in organizing educational programs for the Hamden-North Haven communities. Pat also serves on the Board of the Friends of the Hamden Library and is an active member of the AAUW. Pat is a lifelong educator with extensive experience in adult education. She also taught English in a small community high school in Brooklyn, New York. After retiring from the New York City Department of Education, Pat began teaching Adult Basic Education at Queens Public Library, Elmhurst. Technology has allowed her to continue teaching in this program, and her students are living in various states and countries. In addition to teaching online, Pat is an ESL tutor with Literacy Volunteers. Working with students from such diverse backgrounds and cultures has been an incredible learning experience. Pat believes strongly in the power of education and the spirit of community.
Vice President Advocacy
Ann joined the LWVCT Board in 2023. She is the President of LWV Darien. She has been interested in politics for many years and has served as a local elected official in her town's nonpartisan Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for the past eight years. Ann had a 25-year career in finance, focused on foreign exchange, trading, and prime brokerage. Ann moved to Connecticut in 2000 from New York City, where she grew up. Ann has been involved in Moms Demand Action for Gun Safety since 2018 and is very passionate about that topic and voting rights for all.
Vice President Advocacy
Jennifer Dayton, LWV Southeastern CT
Jennifer Dayton earned a Bachelor of Science from Wellesley College and a Master of Science from the London School of Economics. She began her career as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., working on international trade issues. Jennifer then moved to New York and worked on the transformation of a US bank to a global merchant bank. While raising her family in southwest Connecticut, she was elected to a local legislature and to a local board of education was then appointed to a regional board of education. Jennifer became an area director and then chair of state relations for the CT Association of Boards of Education. Recently, in a southeastern Connecticut town, she served on an economic development commission and is a board member of a nonprofit developer of affordable housing. Her League experience includes moderating discussions on democracy for a program committee and chairing advocacy for a local League. At LWVCT, she is a legislative specialist and coordinator for the LWV Transformation.
Treasurer
Margaret Conley Heffel was a passionate small business owner and early childhood education leader after moving to Connecticut in 1983 until her retirement in 2020. Throughout her career, she served on the boards of the Connecticut Early Childhood Education Council, Connecticut School Age Child Care Association, Parent Child Resource Center, Connecticut Charts-A-Course, and the Shelton Readiness Council Steering Committee. Marge has a master's degree from Bank Street College of Education in Early Childhood Leadership, 27 Adelphi University graduate credits in Business Administration, and a Connecticut Master Director Credential from Charter Oak State College. In her free time, she is an avid reader, golfer, and pickleballer, loves spending time with her friends and family, and enjoys registering voters with her daughter Lesley. Marge is currently a member of the League of Women Voters of Bridgeport, and was previously affiliated with the Hamden League. She is looking forward to continuing as Treasurer with the LWVCT Board.
Secretary
Lesley Heffel-McGuirk, LWV New Haven
Lesley Heffel McGuirk is a steadfast advocate for democratic values and is thrilled to begin her third (non-consecutive) term on the board of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut. She also serves as the secretary of the New Haven League and chairs the New Haven Democracy Fund, a unique public financing program for municipal elections. In her day job, Lesley combines her passion for education with her love of spreadsheets as the Senior Manager of Data Strategy for the Yale Alumni Association. She has become an expert in harnessing the power of data-informed decision-making to enhance the effectiveness of nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. With 20 years of experience in higher education, she most recently worked with the YAA and has previously worked at Yale Law School, New York University School of Social Work, and The New School. A native of Connecticut, Lesley resides in New Haven with her husband, Matt, and their two dogs.
Director of Development
Celeste LaCroix has been on the Development Team for the Westport Library since 2017 and the Development Team of the UCONN foundation since 2020. Formerly a copywriter for Cooper Marketing Associates, Job Developer for STAR in Norwalk, Property Manager for Homequity Realty in Virginia, and a Realtor for William Pitt Realty in Wilton. Her positions in the League of Women Voters have included Director of Events, Community Service, Voter Services, President (twice), and she has published the Voter’s Guide, League Directory, and Know Your Town for the Westport League. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut, a Master’s degree in Education, Rehabilitation, and Drug Counseling from Springfield College, and is a graduate of the Realtor Institute.
Joanne is the immediate past co-president ofLWVCT and the debate manager for the League of Women Voters of Southeastern CT. She is a retired physical therapist who continues to be interested in strengthening the voices of people with special needs. She enjoys public speaking on the topic of voting and women’s history. In the coming year, she intends to become more involved with Capitol Information Tours.
Director at Large
Anne is the Treasurer of the LWV of Southeastern Connecticut and has also been the Program Director. Anne recently moved to Lyme from Montgomery County, MD, where she served on the Board, was the ranked-choice voting lead, and served on the National Capital Area Board. While living in the DC region, Anne was also part of LWVUS Lobby Corps, covering six states, including Connecticut. She enjoys being a LWVUS delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Anne was previously in management consulting for both for-profit and non-profit organizations. She graduated from Brown University, received an MBA from the Wharton School, and recently attended the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard.
Director at Large
Bianca Shinn Desras, LWV Stamford
Ms. Bianca Shinn Desras has extensive experience in the field of social services, public health, and education. She previously served as an Investigation Social Worker with the CT State Department of Children and Families, Minister Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the United Nations, and as the Director of Family Advocates at a local charter school. Her interest in the field of public health and education includes adolescent health, urban trauma, and the impact of parent engagement. She is currently employed at Domus Kids as an Associate Data Strategist. Ms. Shinn Desras is actively involved in her Stamford community as the current Co-Chair of Stamford Health’s Patient and Family Advisory Council and as a member of the Stamford Vaping Task Force. She is involved with the LWV Stamford and is a member of the Parent Leader Training Institute. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in political science from CSCU and earned graduate degrees from SCSU in public health, school health education, and urban studies. She is a former Aspen Institute Scholar. She has been quoted for her expertise by The Inter-American Dialogue’s Daily Newspaper, “The Dialogue.” Ms. Shinn Desras is committed to advocacy and ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable are echoed loud. She takes special interest in voters’ engagement among young people of color. Her motto is: “We have to plan with them and not for them. Inclusion matters.” She enjoys hiking, indoor gardening, and reading.
Off-Board
Vote411 Lead
Joan’s long history with the League of Women Votersbegan in the Legislative Action Division after graduating from Mt. Holyoke College in 1975. She was a registered lobbyist covering LWVUS’ International Relations (IR) portfolio before moving to the Ed Fund as IR Director where she developed an exchange program with the Soviet Women’s Committee. Joan earned a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland and moved to Connecticut in 1986, working as an analyst and data project manager. In 2001, Joan completed her PhD in Sociology at UCONN and worked for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) where she created and managed the Office for Research and Evaluation. After retiring from DCF, Joan’s principal engagement was a program entitled “Getting it Right: Creating an LGBT Inclusive Organization”. Joan became active with the League again in 2018 when she joined the Executive Board of the LWV Greater Hartford Area. She lives with her wife, Irene Scheibner, in Bloomfield, CT.
LWVCT Staff
Marketing and Communications
Rachel completed her BA in International Studies and Spanish at the University of Wyoming, and her Master’s degree in International Development and Global Health at the Korbel School of International Studies. On and off the clock, she is involved in nonpartisan political work to achieve public policy that reflects the will & serves the interests of the people and the planet above the two-party system and corporate profits. In her free time, she enjoys many recreational activities outdoors, playing music, dancing, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
Operations Manager
Lisa Del Sesto
A Rhode Island native returned to New England after living in California; she brings the spirit of her recent activist and organizer work to LWVCT. Lisa Del Sesto has been actively working for women's rights and equality and is thrilled to be a part of the LWVCT, contributing to all the League's great work in her role as the Operations Manager. She is passionate about voting rights and civic participation. Lisa has a BA in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She is currently completing her Master's in Public Administration - nonprofit management through California State University, Northridge.
Capitol Information and Tours Staff
Director
Kimberly (Kim) Fabrizio
Kim has been a fixture at the CT State Capitol for 30 years. She began her time with Capitol Information and Tours (CIT) in 1991 as a summer intern, moving up to part-time staff and then to Assistant Director. In 2008, she took over as CIT Director and has continued to refine and adapt the Capitol tour program to meet the ever-changing needs of the public and the legislature. She received her BA in History with a certificate in Russian Area Studies from St. Anselm College and her MA in American Studies from Trinity College. Kim is a lifelong resident of Bristol with her husband and two children. Kim served two terms on the Bristol Board of Education and held the position of Board Secretary. Kim is a Justice of the Peace and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, CT Department.
Assistant Director
Elaine Ogren-Speranza
A proud Hartford native who loves its rich history, Elaine is graduate of Bulkely High School and attended Manchester Community College. Her previous employment includes the iconic G. Fox & Company, Lux, Bond, & Green Jewelers, banking, and 17 years as a floor director at the Bushnell Theater. A 40-year member of the Connecticut Girl Scouts (scout, leader, and event coordinator), Elaine volunteers for the Wethersfield Historical Society and supports the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, the Connecticut Historical Society, and the Children and Family Services. In 2003, she created "MiscElainEOS", a straw lady who debuted at Old Wethersfield's "Scare Crows on Main" and later developed into a series of 72 paintings featuring Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, and MiscElainEOS the tour guide. Elaine joined CIT in 2009 as a volunteer and in 2013 was named Assistant Director. Her goal is to welcome all visitors to the Capitol with a smile and the "red carpet" treatment. She enjoys meeting diverse guests from near and far. She currently resides in Wethersfield with her husband, Arthur, and cat Freddie. Her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren reside in New York.
